To call the Mercedes-Benz C111 a concept car is to do it a bit of a disservice.
You see, there were a whole series of C111s, built as a test bed for the German carmaker’s most outlandish ideas and theories. And as test beds go, you have to agree that it’s one of the most beautiful. Of course, it follows the ’70s supercar formula to the letter, especially in terms of styling—wedge shape, gullwing doors, and an engine in the middle—but it diverges almost everywhere else.
In the minds of the company bosses, the C111 series were really just (exceptionally pretty) engineering mules. Here’s a short list of a few concepts the C111 helped Merc’s engineers test: rotary engines, diesel engines, turbocharged engines, multilink rear suspension, GRP body panels, and super-slippery aerodynamics.
The C111 first met the public at the 1969 Frankfurt Motor Show, sporting a three-rotor Wankel engine that was good for 280hp. Then, in 1970, Mercedes upped the ante with four rotors, 350hp, a 0-100 time of 4.9sec and a top speed of 300kph.
But, being a Wankel-designed rotary, the engine wasn’t without its problems—namely, reliability and durability. Fuel consumption was also a concern, as were emissions legislation in the US.
So, it was back to reciprocating pistons. And, after the fuel crisis of 1973 (OPEC basically stopped exporting oil, with fairly predictable consequences), people became much more concerned with fuel economy. So, Mercedes decided to test out diesel engines, to see if the compression-ignition engine had any business in a sports car.
A turbocharged and intercooled version of Merc’s 3.0-liter five-cylinder diesel produced 190hp. Doesn’t sound like that much, but this was an engine that made 80hp in production guise. The C111 project was home to some of Mercedes’ finest concept work. Eventually, in 1976, the diesel C111 would hit a record-breaking 251kph, thanks to that same 3.0-liter diesel engine—now pumping out 230hp.
But the finest version, at least in our book, is the final C111. With a 4.8-liter V8 gasoline making 500hp, this was the kind of supercar that dreams are truly made of. And records, too—with a 402kph run around Nardo’s banked oval circuit.
Unfortunately, Mercedes realized that the strength of GRP wasn’t up to the safety standards the company held, so the C111 remained a concept and test mule for its 10-year life.
The thing is, though, we’ve actually driven a V8-powered C111. And we found that it’s easy to drive and surprisingly well-built. And, at least for us, that makes it one of the most truly desirable concepts of all time.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
